by the consent of this Governor, sent on board of a barque freighted by Yacoob Aga himself, which set sail for Jeddah, together with the other baghlows mentioned above.

I was informed of these occurrences only after the starting of the baghlows, and, in consequence, I was not able to take any steps to prevent the mentioned smuggle. But as, according to a despatch from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, dated 8th of December, 1857, his Lordship orders me to use my utmost efforts to prevent the Slave Trade under any pretext whatever, I cannot keep quiet on the present occasion, and am under the necessity of having recourse to your kindness and support, begging you to claim from his Excellency the Mushir of Jeddah the observance of the laws, and the respect due to the above-mentioned order received from his Lordship the Secretary of State; protesting, at the same. time, against the illegal and despotical proceeding of this Governor, who must be punished, and immediately suspended from his functions as a Governor, and requesting of the Mushir of Jeddah that all the above-mentioned slaves be restored to their liberty, and sent back to their own country, to give an example to the population of this quarter, and to show to slave-merchants that the orders of the Sultan cannot be neglected or transgressed with impunity.

I trust that you will kindly, and with energy, support me in obtaining from his Excellency the Mushir of Jeddah all that I have humbly exposed in this note.

G. E. Stanley, Esq.

I have, &c.

R. BARRONI.

(Inclosure 2.)-Consul-General Colquhoun to Consul Stanley. DEAR SIR, Alexandria, December 10, 1860. MR. BARRONI, Her Majesty's Acting-Consul at Massowah, has forwarded to me a copy of a letter he addressed to you, dated 19th October last, respecting certain acts of Slave Trade carried on from Massowah (or, rather, the mainland adjoining Massowah) to the eastern coast of the Red Sea.

I approve entirely the tenor of the despatch above referred to; it is written in a spirit highly becoming an officer of Her Majesty's Government, and I have no doubt you have already taken the necessary steps with the Mushir to remedy the evil. I think it, however, my duty to instruct you to wait upon the Mushir to tell him that the circumstances have been brought to my knowledge, and that you are desired by me to require from his Excellency the punishment, prompt and immediate, of Pellool Effendi, Kaimakam of Massowah, and that every endeavour should be made to procure the liberation of the slaves. You are aware how anxious Her Majesty's Government is to check this disgusting traffic in human flesh, and how resolved it is to visit with displeasure all and every person

implicated in it. Moreover, the moral effect which cannot fail to attend such disinterested action on our part must prove beneficial in strengthening our legitimate influence in those countries, and convincing the natives that, while we are desirous of giving to them. the advantage of fair commerce, we are resolved to check a traffic which is a disgrace to humanity. I have, &c. G. E. Stanley, Esq.

SIR,

ROBERT G. COLQUHOUN.

(Inclosure 3.)-Consul-General Colquhoun to Mr. Barroni. Alexandria, December 10, 1860. MR. HOYER delivered me your letter of the 19th October, inclosing copy of one you addressed to Mr. Consul Stanley at Jeddah. I have much pleasure in expressing to you my entire concurrence in the sentiments expressed in that letter, which are highly creditable to you. I have instructed Mr. Stanley to use every endeavour to procure the liberation of the slaves, and to require from the Mushir of Jeddah the exemplary punishment of his Kaimakam at Massowah.

I have no information as to when Captain Cameron will proceed to his post. In the meantime, until he arrives, you will have the goodness to inform me of what is passing in your neighbourhood. I have, &c.

R. Barroni, Esq.

ROBERT G. COLQUHOUN.

No. 165.-Memorandum by Consul Petherick on Report of the Slave Trade at Khartoum by Mr. Coulthard, of Alexandria.

4, Russell Place, Fitzroy Square, December 21, 1860. I BEG in the most positive manner to state, that up to March, 1859, not one of the European residents at Khartoum, ever since my knowledge of them, was guilty of trafficking, directly or indirectly, with slaves; and the only probable reason for the statements imparted to Mr. Coulthard may have arisen from jealousy entertained by native traders against Europeans, or even similar feelings existing amongst themselves, stimulated by difference of nationalities.

Some few Arab traders might truly be accused of purchasing and even stealing slaves in several districts of the White Nile, and disposing of them to Arab traders for transport to Kordofan or Sennaar in the manner described, but the facts are greatly exagge rated.

The Cairo market, far from being supplied by this manner, is indebted for the greater number of its slaves purchased in L'Obeid, in Kordofan, emanating from Darfour, and the Bagara, nomade Arabs, inhabiting the southern districts of the province. Sennaar and Gellabat also contribute to the supply of negro and Abyssinian slaves; but the latter, during recent years, owing to the opposition

of Theodor, the Emperor, to the trade, have been considerably reduced in numbers. The razzias, the number of men engaged therein, and the victims, are also overdrawn.

I have heard it stated that a few Europeans, prior to my resi dence in the Soudan, did further slaves to the Cairo market; but since my knowledge of the country, they cannot justly be accused of selling slaves.

Owing to the peculiarities of the inhabitants among whom they reside, and their aversion to permit females in particular (and in Kordofan even the males) to enter into servitude, the only charge that can be legitimately brought against some of the European residents is, the purchase of slaves for domestic servants, but who in every case within my knowledge have been given their freedom; and when disagreements have arisen, they have been allowed to follow their own inclinations.

Mr. Colquhoun very justly states that, "constituted as Egyptian life is, it is difficult, if not impossible, to prevent the evil." Indeed the total abolition of slavery amongst a people long accustomed to the services of a multiplicity of domestics, who, according to the habits of Mahometans, cannot be obtained from their own community, can only be effected by an entire change in their social state, and must be a work of time.

If consistent and energetic means were resorted to, there is no doubt but that convoys of slaves, such as alluded to, from the Soudan, might be prevented entering Egypt by a simple order from the Viceroy to the Governors of Provinces to seize every man in charge thereof, and to prevent as much as possible the traffic in the Soudan. The measures put into practice in the years 1857 and 1858 by His Highness, punishing both purchaser and vendor, should be strictly re-enforced.

It is to be feared the recent increase of the traffic might b attributable in some measure to the Viceroy's augmentation of his body-guard.

The Nubian recruits to which Mr. Colquhoun alludes are in every probability slaves, either purchased through commissioned agents, or levied in the shape of a tax from the aborigines.

This system of recruiting has been the only method of obtaining supplies for the army, owing to the repugnance of the population of Soudan in general to serve.

SIR,

J. PETHERICK.

No. 166.-Lord J. Russell to Consul Petherick.

Foreign Office, December 31, 1860. I HAVE received your letter of the 29th of November last, and also a memorandum dated the 21st instant, containing your obser

vations on the report forwarded to Her Majesty's Government by Her Majesty's Agent and Consul-General in Egypt, relative to the Slave Trade.

You are aware of the deep interest which Her Majesty's Government takes in the suppression of the Slave Trade, which is stated to be carried on in Upper Egypt, and the neighbourhood of the White Nile, and you have already been directed to use your best exertions to put a stop to it.

I think it right, however, again to call your attention to this matter, as well as to the system of razzias established by traders, whether European or native, resorting for purposes of commerce to the White Nile. Such a system must be productive of much misery and bloodshed, and if persisted in will inevitably put an end to all legitimate commerce.

I have accordingly to desire that you will use your utmost influence in order to put a stop to such razzias, and to establish the trade of the river on a satisfactory basis.

I have instructed Her Majesty's Agent and Consul-General in Egypt to communicate to the Egyptian Government the substance of the reports which have reached him relative to the Slave Trade in Upper Egypt, and the system of razzias carried on by the traders on the White Nile; and I have also directed him to urge His Highness the Viceroy to take energetic measures for the suppression of the slave traffic, and for the punishment of the parties engaged in it.

You will forward your reports on these matters to Her Majesty's Government under flying seal to Mr. Colquhoun, in order that he may be enabled at once to make such representations to the Government of the Viceroy as circumstances may appear to require.

J. Petherick, Esq.

I am, &c.

J. RUSSELL.

No. 167.-Lord J. Russell to Consul-General Colquhoun. (Extract.) Foreign Office, December 31, 1860. I TRANSMIT to you herewith an extract from a report which I have received from Mr. Consul Petherick, relative to the Slave Trade, which is stated to be carried on in Upper Egypt.

I have instructed Mr. Petherick, who is about to return to Egypt, to report upon the system of razzias established by the traders, European as well as native, frequenting the White Nile, which is the cause of much misery and bloodshed, and must, if persisted in, put a stop to all legitimate commerce; and he is to use every endeavour to put a stop to, and to procure the punishment of the persons who may be engaged in it.

I have also to desire that you will bring to the notice of the Egyptian Government the substance of the reports which have reached you on this subject, and you will urge His Highness the Viceroy to take immediate and energetic measures for the suppression of the traffic in African slaves, and for the punishment of the persons engaged in and conniving at it.

You will further express the hope of Her Majesty's Government that means may be found for putting a stop to expeditions which, avowedly undertaken for the purposes of trade, are accompanied with systematic acts of violence directed against the tribes in the vicinity of the White Nile, and for carrying on the trade of that river on a more humane and satisfactory system. R. G. Colquhoun, Esq.

J. RUSSELL.

UNITED STATES.

No. 169. Mr. Elliot to Lord Wodehouse.

MY LORD, Downing Street, March 30, 1860. I HAVE laid before the Duke of Newcastle your Lordship's letter of the 17th instant, relative to the detention of the American brigantine Jehossee by Commander Fitzroy, of Her Majesty's ship Falcon, and the subsequent release of that vessel by order of Commander Bowden, of Her Majesty's ship Medusa, and with reference to the question proposed as to the limits of British jurisdiction in the waters of Quitta and the neighbouring African coast, I am directed by his Grace to request that you will state to Lord John Russell that the British Government possesses no jurisdiction in the waters or territory on that part of the coast beyond the range of the guns of the Fort of Quitta.

I am to add that the Governor of the Gold Coast will be instructed to call upon the Civil Commandant at Quitta for an explanation of the statement which he appears to have made to Commander Fitzroy, that British waters extend to Flowhow or Porourah. I have, &c.

Lord Wodehouse.

T. FREDK. ELLIOT.

No. 171.-Lord Lyons to Lord J. Russell.-(Received April 23.) MY LORD, Washington, April 5, 1860.

IN my despatch of the 5th ultimo, I had the honour to report to your Lordship that I had communicated to General Cass your Lordship's despatch of the 6th February last, proposing that the Minister of The United States and the Diplomatic Representatives